Back in 2009, thrash metal was experiencing a revival by youngsters who were barely out of nappies in the '80s when the thrash scene was conceived. Amongst the tides of Slayer and Exodus wannabes, this year saw American thrashers Vektor unleash their debut album 'Black Future', amassing enviably high commendation from the metal fans and press alike. Unlike the copious clone bands, this four-piece brought something innovative to the table rather than fanboy nostalgia that so many new thrash acts were producing.
Fast-forward to 2015 and Vektor are on making first contact with European voyage, somewhat delayed considering their rapid success but better late than never. The appetite for their appearance in the capital is ravenous with the Black Heart scheduled for the original venue becoming upgraded for the notably more spacious Underworld. It may be a Sunday night in December but outside the Underworld, hordes of skinny jeans and patch jackets float around the venue waiting for the Americans to take the stage.
Support is from Angelus Apatrida, a Spanish thrash metal act formed in 2000 and signed to Century Media Records. Boasting contemporary thrash metal with a technical guidance, the four-piece are awash with sincere enthusiasm and have a dedicated gathering of headbangers in action at the front of the venue. While the band is formulated with talented musicians, the music itself is derivative as it cycles through neo-trash melody, typical groove metal sections and vocals that leave more to be desired.
Wasting no time, headliners Vektor rocket into the ten minute long 'Cosmic Cortex', unapologetically launching sci-fi themed thrash metal into the Underworld and inspiring a frenzied mosh pit in the busy venue. Fusing brutal intensity with accomplished musicianship, the Americans' take on thrash metal immediately declares itself unique. With a variety of masterful techniques, tempos and a flourish of spaced-out progressive passages, the music keeps the listener's attention sustained with each song bearing its own distinctive identity.
Emitting the cosmological meanderings of 'Deoxyribonucleic Acid', 'Tetrastructural Minds' and 'Black Future' are excellent decisions, executed with gusto and readily devoured by the fans. In addition to selections from the band's first two studio efforts'Black Future' and 'Cosmic Cortex', the audience is treated to tracks from the forth-coming album 'Terminal Redux', namely 'Ultimate Artificer', 'The Cygnus Terminal' and 'Psychotropia', delving into Atheist and Voivod-esque experimental and technical galaxies exhibiting a clear indication of the musical growth harnessed by the members since last album 2011's 'Cosmic Cortex'
Frontman David DiSanto broadcasts the final song of the night as 'Accelerating Universe', clocking in in excess of 13 minutes. Flawlesslyperformed, the headliners leave the stage but the intransigent crowd do not evacuate the venue and soon enough, Vektor return to play one of the strongest tracks in their inventory,'Asteroid'. The crowd are ecstatic at its announcement and the pits do not stop while noodling untraditional guitar work and black metal growls with thrash shrieks dominate the venue for one final time before the set finishes on a stellar noteleaving the thrashers to thank the audience before bidding them a good night.
Vektor are undoubtedly one of the most promising young thrash metal artists and the excitement in the Underworld is illustrative that the international metal universe has taken certainly taken note of their creative approach. 'Terminal Redux' is certainly an album worth purchasing next year and hopefully it will be accompanied by another European tour.
FUTURE GIGS
sorry, we currently have no gigs listed for this act.